All Politics is Localhttp://blogs.columbian.com/all-politics-is-local
We go to meetings so you don't have to.Wed, 23 May 2018 19:36:08 +0000en-UShourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=3.9.24Cantwell asks Trump to help reduce fuel costshttp://blogs.columbian.com/all-politics-is-local/cantwell-asks-trump-to-help-reduce-fuel-costs/
http://blogs.columbian.com/all-politics-is-local/cantwell-asks-trump-to-help-reduce-fuel-costs/#commentsWed, 23 May 2018 19:36:08 +0000http://blogs.columbian.com/all-politics-is-local/?p=7706Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., teamed up with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., Wednesday to ask President Donald Trump to take action.

Their specific request is this: pressure the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries to increase the oil supply. The hope is action by the President could decrease the price consumers pay at the pump in time for the summer.

“The American people want to know what the President plans to do about this,” she said.

Schumer said the rising prices cancel out any consumption boost families gained from the tax cuts.

“That’s right, whatever meager benefit working families might have seen from Trump’s tax scam for the rich is being wiped out by the gas prices President Trump is responsible for,” he said.

Cantwell added that the average American household will pay $167 more for fuel this year.

“I guarantee you what they got in the tax break just got washed away in higher fuel prices,” she said.

Cantwell, Schumer and Sens. Ed Markey, D-Mass., and Bob Menendez, D-N.J., sent a letter pressuring Trump Wednesday to use his authority to improve consumer’s lives and reduce stress on their pocketbooks.

Katy Sword

I cover the city of Vancouver and federal politics. Reach me at katy.sword@columbian.com.

]]>http://blogs.columbian.com/all-politics-is-local/cantwell-asks-trump-to-help-reduce-fuel-costs/feed/0Turlay gets his debate on climate change, kind ofhttp://blogs.columbian.com/all-politics-is-local/turlay-gets-his-debate-on-climate-change-kind-of/
http://blogs.columbian.com/all-politics-is-local/turlay-gets-his-debate-on-climate-change-kind-of/#commentsWed, 16 May 2018 18:21:16 +0000http://blogs.columbian.com/all-politics-is-local/?p=7669At Monday’s citizen forum, four residents used the opportunity to advocate for a climate action plan. The citizens referred to Bellingham, which recently adopted a resolution to strive for 100 percent renewable energy and asked Vancouver’s council to do the same. As some may know, Councilor Bill Turlay is a well-established climate change denier, or […]]]>

At Monday’s citizen forum, four residents used the opportunity to advocate for a climate action plan.

The citizens referred to Bellingham, which recently adopted a resolution to strive for 100 percent renewable energy and asked Vancouver’s council to do the same.

So when citizens began asking for the city to pass a resolution committing to 100 percent renewable energy by 2050, to halt construction of new fossil fuel infrastructure and to implement a climate action plan, it was hard for Turlay to say nothing.

First, he asked Sherrie Bush who had just testified to define what she wanted an action plan for.

“On the climate,” Bush said.

Here’s how the rest of that conversation played out.

Turlay: “The climate? You’re going to change the climate? How do you plan on doing that?”

Bush: “I’m not planning on doing it personally alone, but us working together.”

Turlay: “Do you have any idea how much real estate that would take? Do you have any idea there’s not enough rare earth material in this planet to do that?”

At this point, Mayor Anne McEnerny-Ogle jumped in and told Turlay to let public testimony continue.

This was his reaction.

Turlay remained silent for the remainder of the citizen forum as two more residents called for climate action plans.

Check out the video below for the full debate, Turlay’s bit begins at 38:17. It may not be the debate he’s asking for, but it’s likely the only debate he will get.

Katy Sword

I cover the city of Vancouver and federal politics. Reach me at katy.sword@columbian.com.

]]>http://blogs.columbian.com/all-politics-is-local/turlay-gets-his-debate-on-climate-change-kind-of/feed/02018 candidate filings follow trendhttp://blogs.columbian.com/all-politics-is-local/2018-candidate-filings-follow-trend/
http://blogs.columbian.com/all-politics-is-local/2018-candidate-filings-follow-trend/#commentsTue, 15 May 2018 02:05:08 +0000http://blogs.columbian.com/all-politics-is-local/?p=7665The first day of filing week is in the books and, for the most part, every candidate we expected to formalize their candidacy put in their paperwork with the Secretary of State office.

According to historical data provided by the SOS’s office, that’s on par with candidate filing trends in the past.

Looking at election filings since 2009, 35 percent of candidates file on Monday of filing week. Of those, 54 percent file online and 36 percent file at the clerk’s counter. Eight percent opt for a special delivery of paperwork.

For the rest of the week, between 12 and 15 percent of candidates file, with Friday as the exception. There’s a final day surge of candidates averaging 24 percent. About 32 percent still file at the counter, but there’s a shift with online filings. Only 41 percent opt to file online whereas the special delivery of paperwork jumps to 27 percent.

If these trends hold, we should see a few filings here and there in the next few days with a final push on Friday as candidates decide to take the plunge and try their hand in the August primary.

Katy Sword

I cover the city of Vancouver and federal politics. Reach me at katy.sword@columbian.com.

]]>http://blogs.columbian.com/all-politics-is-local/2018-candidate-filings-follow-trend/feed/0Liz Pike calls for Clark County GOP chair to resignhttp://blogs.columbian.com/all-politics-is-local/liz-pike-calls-for-clark-county-gop-chair-to-resign/
http://blogs.columbian.com/all-politics-is-local/liz-pike-calls-for-clark-county-gop-chair-to-resign/#commentsThu, 10 May 2018 22:36:56 +0000http://blogs.columbian.com/all-politics-is-local/?p=7647With candidate filings less than a week away, partisan politics are already hot. It’s also evident that the local Clark County Republican Party remains fractured.

Pike posted on Facebook that she can no longer support Gellatly as chair citing recent actions as “extremely troubling.” While Pike does not specify what actions she finds troubling, it’s safe to presume she’s referencing details of Gellatly’s ongoing divorce proceedings. Several screenshots of the filings are circling online and in local Facebook page groups.

“For the sake of our Republican candidates, the current chair has become too much of a distraction and must now resign,” she said.

Gellatly provided the following response.

Liz Pike is and has been playing dirty behind the scenes for a long time. … While Liz has been able to fool a lot of people into trusting her, she has been successful at hiding her lack of any accomplishments in Olympia.

The small group of radical minded people who infiltrated the Clark County GOP a few years ago and recently lost their influence within it, will always attack me and I never expect to see this change. … If their goal is to help elect Democrats, then they get an A for their effort, but no one is fooled by who they pretended to be anymore.

After a year of constant attacks and lies from the radical group of Liz’s friends, it has certainly worn on me. Having the break in my family was also very hard, and having false accusations against me is never fun. I did not always handle everything perfectly and have been very open and honest about this. A couple times I even let it get the better of me and used poor judgement in my personal life, a couple instances I was open and honest about that I expect to be fully exploited and exaggerated by Pike and her group.

But being a volunteer in my community evidently has put me and my personal life on a target list for Liz and her friends. I will not comment on my personal family matters and those who try to use this in their attacks (will) not be worth even acknowledging. With all the lies and attacks, I have tried to stay on the most positive track I can with things. But to be honest, I find myself very tired, physically and mentally.

I am often asked why. Why don’t I quit? My only reason is the knowledge that although I don’t claim to be perfect by any means, I know that someone has to stand up for what’s right against those who put this type of poison into our community. I might fail from time to time in my life, and if someone else has lived the perfect life and wants to take my volunteer position on, by all means, I will not stand in the way.

With more than 20 partisan offices up for election in Clark County this year, along with 287 GOP precinct committee chairs, it could be a long, hard-fought summer for party members.

Katy Sword

I cover the city of Vancouver and federal politics. Reach me at katy.sword@columbian.com.

]]>http://blogs.columbian.com/all-politics-is-local/liz-pike-calls-for-clark-county-gop-chair-to-resign/feed/049th Legislative Democrats still together after deregistering with state [Updated]http://blogs.columbian.com/all-politics-is-local/49th-legislative-democrats-still-together-after-deregistering-with-state/
http://blogs.columbian.com/all-politics-is-local/49th-legislative-democrats-still-together-after-deregistering-with-state/#commentsTue, 08 May 2018 01:00:02 +0000http://blogs.columbian.com/all-politics-is-local/?p=7637Earlier this year, the 49th Legislative District Democrats made the unusual decision to deregister as a political committee with the state’s Public Disclosure Commission.

What prompted the dissolution of the committee was being sued by Glen Morgan, a conservative activist who has been criticized for using the state’s campaign finance laws to target Democrats.

But Carol Turgeon called recently to say that while the group has disbanded as a legal entity, its members are still engaged in party-building activities and supporting Democratic candidates.

“We’re more like a club,” she said.

Morgan alleged that the group failed to properly report its finances to the commission. He filed a citizen’s action complaint, a lawsuit filed by a citizen seeking to enforce state law, against the group. Turgeon denies the allegations.

She said that the group still holds meetings twice a month. She said that dues are $10 a year to pay for promotional literature, as well as coffee and donuts.

She said that if the group isn’t raising or spending money on political candidates, the PDC doesn’t require them to register and file papers.

“That’s all that’s changed,” she said.

UPDATE

After this blog ran Angela Wilkinson, the chair of the 49th Legislative District Democrats, emailed me to clarify that the group doesn’t knock on doors for candidates but as precinct committee officers to find out what issues are important to voters in the district.

“As an entity, the 49th LD does not engage in activities that financially support or oppose candidates, and this includes knocking on doors for candidates,” she wrote. “The confusion comes from the fact that PCOs can volunteer for candidate campaigns and knock on doors for candidates, but not as the 49th LD. Doing so would be a direct violation with the PDC.”

]]>http://blogs.columbian.com/all-politics-is-local/49th-legislative-democrats-still-together-after-deregistering-with-state/feed/0The Turlays have an email issuehttp://blogs.columbian.com/all-politics-is-local/the-turlays-have-an-email-issue/
http://blogs.columbian.com/all-politics-is-local/the-turlays-have-an-email-issue/#commentsMon, 07 May 2018 21:38:23 +0000http://blogs.columbian.com/all-politics-is-local/?p=7631Today we ran a story about Councilor Bill Turlay and how he is confused about email. Specifically distinguishing between his personal and private accounts.

As he said, “I just hit the computer, and it says OK from here to there and I send it.”

But it looks like she also doesn’t quite understand how email works. Stephanie sent an email stating her opposition to funding for the arts — an issue the council recently discussed — but had some trouble getting her thoughts from here to there. Instead, Stephanie sent her email to City Manager Eric Holmes to forward on to council.

If you want to read her view on arts funding, her email is below.

Dear Mayor and Council,

I am opposed to the funding for the Arts for the following
reasons: Citizens’ of Vancouver have had numerous tax
increases this past year. The homeless issues, purchase of a
building, and low-income maintenance assistance property tax
and other increases abound. Then residences in the Evergreen
school boundary have $800M bond which will take almost 20
years to pay off. The City and County and State have initiated
new tax increases as well. This, in addition to regular city
expenses, Police, Fire, roads/streets, etc. and you have a
sizeable existing tax burden on the people which have already
threatened the financial stability of many low-income and
elderly. If Governor Inslee’s Carbon Tax goes through this
changes the entire game for everyone, and not for the better…

The Arts issue is a luxury which most citizens of Vancouver have
little interest in funding. This should be financed and managed
by those who have the means to promote and support it. To
force the entire city to support this type of optional luxury costing
without a vote is wrong and unfair.

I was an Art major in college and High School. I love my art
hobbies and interests, but I would not be at all comfortable
forcing others to pay to support my interests.

This is not a fair way to satisfy the few at the expense of the
many nor should it be given priority due to your personal
feelings.

Stephanie Turlay
Vancouver, WA

Katy Sword

I cover the city of Vancouver and federal politics. Reach me at katy.sword@columbian.com.

]]>http://blogs.columbian.com/all-politics-is-local/the-turlays-have-an-email-issue/feed/0When the community cat program was “Kitty McNuggets”http://blogs.columbian.com/all-politics-is-local/when-the-community-cat-program-was-kitty-mcnuggets/
http://blogs.columbian.com/all-politics-is-local/when-the-community-cat-program-was-kitty-mcnuggets/#commentsWed, 02 May 2018 20:54:26 +0000http://blogs.columbian.com/all-politics-is-local/?p=7623Clark County Council has passed an ordinance creating a “Kitty McNuggets” program.

Well, maybe if your understanding of the world is still shaped by political ads from 2016.

Last week, the county council passed an ordinance that created a “community cat” program. The program is intended to legally recognize cats that are stray, feral or rely on several residents of a neighborhood for food. The program allows groups like the Humane Society for Southwest Washington to sterilize, vaccinate and then release these not-quite-domestic felines back outside without committing animal abandonment.

The ordinance has been years in the making. In July 2013, when the then county commission was discussing the program Tom Mielke said that when feral cats are released they would be fed to coyotes. A giggling David Madore said “they become Kitty McNuggets.”

Madore’s remark was later used in an attack ad against him in his reelection bid that featured the heads of helpless-looking cats on chicken nuggets. The ad claimed that Madore, who lost his bid for reelection, suggested feeding Kitty McNuggets to hungry coyotes to cut down on animal shelter costs.

But, of course, that’s not how the program is supposed to work. Community cat programs have been adopted across the country and are touted as a way to better manage populations of stray and feral cats. Apparently, the program is also a political football in what was a strange election.

The attack ad may have persuaded some voters to vote against Madore. But the mischaracterized program moved forward.

]]>http://blogs.columbian.com/all-politics-is-local/when-the-community-cat-program-was-kitty-mcnuggets/feed/0Long lands two substantial endorsementshttp://blogs.columbian.com/all-politics-is-local/long-lands-two-substantial-endorsements/
http://blogs.columbian.com/all-politics-is-local/long-lands-two-substantial-endorsements/#commentsTue, 01 May 2018 19:22:55 +0000http://blogs.columbian.com/all-politics-is-local/?p=7619Democrat Carolyn Long has picked up two heavy-weight endorsements in her attempt to unseat Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, R-Battle Ground.

Long announced endorsements from Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson and former Governor Chris Gregoire Tuesday.

“As champions for Southwest Washington, they feel as I do, that we deserve new leadership in Congress,” Long said in a press release.

Here’s what Gregoire had to say about Long:

“Carolyn’s solutions-minded approach to governing and dedication to helping those who disagree find common ground will make her an effective representative in Congress. Carolyn’s work in her community over the last twenty-two years and connection to hundreds of families through her teaching gives her unique insight into the challenges faced by 3rd District residents.”

And here’s Ferguson’s take:

“Her dedication to our constitutional system makes her an ideal candidate to serve as a check on this executive and protect the rights of Southwest Washingtonians. Carolyn Long is the right person to represent Washington’s 3rd Congressional District in Congress.”

Katy Sword

I cover the city of Vancouver and federal politics. Reach me at katy.sword@columbian.com.

]]>http://blogs.columbian.com/all-politics-is-local/long-lands-two-substantial-endorsements/feed/0Washington Senators challenge FCC againhttp://blogs.columbian.com/all-politics-is-local/washington-senators-challenge-fcc-again/
http://blogs.columbian.com/all-politics-is-local/washington-senators-challenge-fcc-again/#commentsFri, 27 Apr 2018 22:28:46 +0000http://blogs.columbian.com/all-politics-is-local/?p=7612Washington’s Democratic U.S. Senators Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray are continuing to challenge the Federal Communications Commission, and by proxy Sinclair Broadcasting. This time they joined 20 other Senators, including Oregon’s Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, to send a letter to FCC Chair Ajit Pai.

“Your ad hoc approach to media ownership must end,” the letter opens.

The group asks Pai to put all media ownership decisions on hold until the commission reviews the national broadcast landscape and allow the federal courts to make a ruling on prior media sales.

“Failure to do so threatens the heart of localism, diversity and competitive fairness in local broadcasting,” the letter said.

The U.S. Court of Appeals is deliberating on a rule change made in April 2017 that reinstated the UHF discount which allows some broadcast stations to count just half of their audience circumventing a cap that prevents stations from owning more than 39 percent of television stations in the U.S.

“The FCC’s limits on broadcast ownership have a long history, both in statute and in the FCC’s rules, and have enjoyed bipartisan support. Those rules are based upon the bedrock principles of localism and diversity, and they also create a level playing field among broadcast companies,” the letter continues.

On Friday, Wilson sent a letter to Roger Millar, the department’s secretary, raising concerns about an incident last week where the message “U Suck” was displayed on an overhead traffic sign on Interstate 5. The department has apologized for the incident and chalked it up to a “training error.”

But in her letter, Wilson requested more information from the department. She asked who was doing the training, who was being trained and for what position and why the phrase “U Suck” is acceptable in the training.